Grounding device for lamp with shielded electrodes

Abstract

A grounding device for a fluorescent lamp of the type having a tubular envelope with electrodes at the ends between which an electric discharge occurs. Radiation shields around the electrodes prevent emission of electrode radiation from the lamp and a grounding element connects the shields to the ground.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. In a fluorescent lamp fixture including a housing and fluorescent lamp of the type comprising a sealed, elongated tubular light-conducting envelope containing an arc-conducting gas, a light emitting phosphor coating on the inside of the envelope and electron-emitting electrodes at each end of the envelope electrically connected to conductors extending through the ends of the envelope, grounded shielding means for preventing emission outside the walls of the envelope of radiation generated in the electrode area of the lamp, said grounded shielding means comprising: a shielding member mounted on said lamp envelope outside the path of the arc discharge between the lamp electrodes and arranged to extend around the electrode area of the lamp envelope, said shielding member having sufficient thickness and axial length to absorb substantially all of the radiation emanating from the electrode area of the lamp around which it extends, and;   a grounding member mounted on the housing of the lamp fixture at a position in contact with the shielding member.   
     
     
       2. The fluorescent lamp fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shielding member is constructed of material having a high atomic number and density which will absorb radiation. 
     
     
       3. The fluorescent lamp fixture of claim 1 wherein the shielding means comprises two spaced grounded shielding members mounted on the lamp to extend around the electrodes on both ends of the lamp. 
     
     
       4. The fluorescent lamp fixture of claim 1 wherein the grounding member is connected to ground through the fluorescent lamp fixture housing. 
     
     
       5. The fluorescent lamp fixture of claim 4 wherein the grounding member is yieldable to permit insertion of the lamp into the lamp fixture to electrically connect the lamp to a source of power. 
     
     
       6. The fluorescent lamp fixture of claim 5 wherein the grounding member is in the form and shape of a flexible wire connected to the housing in a position so as to generally extend transversely to the axis of the fluorescent tube mounted in the housing.